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NURSING NEWS Photo: Congratulations to our graduates from staff via Zoom News from Ben’s desk What an amazing few months it has been for 2020. I have seen so many encouraging ways that our profession has stepped up to the crises that have occurred. At the core of our profession is ‘care’. Amongst the challenges faced so far in 2020, I have been so impressed to see how nurses and midwives have extended ‘care’ to those in need on so many fronts. From providing advanced care to critically ill people in ICU; to working on the frontline in hospitals and clinics and into the community, nurses have consistently led care. I have been encouraged by our professions response, and was proud to hear one of our Alumni from the school helped to set up the now viral ‘Adopt a Healthcare worker’ social media campaign across Australia. Similarly, the community have supported us and our MDT colleagues in ‘Fueling the Frontline’ to provide staff with coff ee sustenance whilst caring for those in need. Outstandingly, our school and students have led the way in managing and responding to the challenges faced by COVID-19. Our school received national recognition through news channels for leading the way early to protect staff, students and the community by moving online. This demonstrated that both staff and students were adaptable, flexible and resilient in managing this change to continue to provide quality learning and teaching. This was yet another reason why we have the best nurse graduates in industry. In addition, I have been inspired by our students and the student body the Notre Dame Nursing Society in how engaged and enthusiastic students were in learning online and engaging in community projects. Free online courses on managing the deteriorating patient and upskilling for the COVID-19 situation were advertised through the school to industry, as led by the respected Dr Steven Hardman. Over 1000 applications (and counting) were received in the first week, a testament to the reputation of the quality of our graduates across all of our courses in nursing and midwifery. A ‘pastoral care online’ blackboard tab was also created to help connect all students to resources and support options online and to stay connected to staff and the University. And finally, as our recent graduates head into industry, we want to acknowledge how proud we are of your achievements. We know you will make an incredible difference to people’s lives. It is an incredible honour to have been part of your learning journey and we hope you have been ‘…profoundly challenged, unsettled, pushed and skilled in the hope that you might think differently and better when you graduate’ (Phillip Darbyshire). Thank you to our graduating students for being role models to our continuing students during these challenging times. We hope you can stay connected with us as a school for our 20 year celebrations, and as a University through the Alumni team notredame.edu.au/alumni/alumni-perks . Best wishes to you all as you commence your new adventures. Dr Benjamin Hay Undergraduate Program Coordinator Professional placements In the 20th year of our Nursing school, the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, and international year of the nurse and midwife we find ourselves in a tumultuous and uncertain world. Nurses and midwives are on the world stage and in the spotlight, tirelessly doing what they have always done, busier than ever and stretched like nothing we have seen before. Caring when others are afraid; saving lives, comforting the dying and preparing bodies, all at once. These moments, a privilege and a terrible burden all at once, training and education have provided these nurses the ability to systematically assess, critically think and purposefully act in the best interests of their patients and each other. To work collaboratively in teams toward a common goal. To get through this, together, not alone. These processes save lives, build better teams and bring a world together like nothing in our lifetimes. The nursing stories I reflect on in my own career are filled with emotions. The same emotions experienced while watching television footage from around the world and now here, in Australia. Nursing is emotional, empowering, rewarding, frustrating, exhausting and out of control. That is the joy, the pain, the heartache and the fun of it. Our next group of graduates will enter their new careers in a moment to be inscribed in history. We ask you, our dear graduates, to trust in your training and education. Trust that you have the knowledge and skills required. Trust that your ability to comfort those experiencing pain and loss, will be enough. We will be beside you; we will be with you and we will be proud of you. Go greatly, go courageously! “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” – Brené Brown Chris Adams Professional Placements Coordinator nursing.professionalpractice@nd.edu.au Photo: Nursing student Ryan Purdy and his dog Pablo during our NCAS ‘drive thru’ pick up on Mouat Street. 2 NOTRE DAME SCHOOL OF NURSING & MIDWIFERY